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How to Connect a Water Hose to a Downspout. You cannot stop the rain, and with water shortages these days, you certainly would not want to, but sometimes it would be nice if you could control at least the part that runs off your roof. If your downspout is dumping a lake right at the base of your foundation, try making this downspout diverter that uses a garden hose to take the water to areas that need it more than your house does,
Read MoreLandscaping Ideas for Subdivision Entryways. Subdivisions are often unfairly characterized as cookie-cutter neighborhoods with row after row of identical houses that have boring grass yards and little creative landscaping. When subdivisions lack individuality, stylish entryways that the whole neighborhood can enjoy also enhance curb appeal for visitors and may even inspire the community members toward greater gardening efforts in their own yards. Appealing landscapes increase property values. So the more exertion put toward beautifying public subdivision entryways, the more valuable the subdivision's individual homes may become.
Read MoreWhat Flowers to Plant That Rabbits Won't Eat. Rabbits find many plants tasty and are especially fond of the bark of fruit trees, members of the rose family and anything in a vegetable garden. Some flowers exist that rabbits dislike, and it's worthwhile learning which these are for your garden's sake. As reported at HintsandThings.com, rabbits dislike plants with tough leaves, strong smells, milky sap and anything with prickles.
Read More5 Characteristics of Poppy Flowers. Over 120 species of poppy exist in the genus Papaver---the genus we usually think of when we say poppy, and which includes the common red, field or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) as well as the notorious opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). However, the Family Papaveraceae contains 26 genera, with some species that look very little like the garden poppies many are used to.
Read MoreTypes of Burgundy Color Flowers. Over the years preferences in garden style and colors change. In the first decades of the 2000s, a trend has been toward darker flowers, and burgundy tops the list . Whatever your landscape plan or occasion calls for, from cut flowers to vines and shrubs, there is sure to be a burgundy colored flower just right for the purpose.
Read MoreHow to Enrich Soils With Charcoal. When wood or similar organic materials are heated at high temperatures in the absence of air, you get charcoal instead of ashes. Charcoal is a stable, highly porous material containing many of the nutrients of the organic matter from which it was made. When added to the soil, it increases the capacity for retention of plant nutrients and beneficial soil microbes by reducing the leaching of those essentials into ground water. Charcoal's low density also lightens heavy clay soils--promoting root growth and improving drainage and aeration. Additionally, charcoal acts similarly to lime as a pH buffer for acidic soils.
Read MoreThe Best Tomato Varieties for Flavor. Everyone claims that her favorite tomato has the best flavor, but to make a truly flavorful tomato, you need all the things crucial to good tomato growth: essential soil nutrients, warmth, sufficient light, just enough water to stimulate growth without mildew, disease resistance, and a lack of pests. Combine all those things with varieties recognized for flavor, and you'll have tasty tomatoes.
Read MoreHow to Make Cypress Knee Lamps. Because of their unusual shapes and attractive wood, cypress knees are often made into ornate and useful objects. The cypress “knees” are above-water roots of the cypress tree -- thought to help the tree get necessary oxygen during flood times or act as buttresses. Cutting them from living trees was once believed to kill the trees, but recent research suggests they are not vital for tree survival. Since nature made them, each knee has its own peculiar shape, so every lamp will be a unique piece of art.
Read MoreTypes of Flowers That Start With S. It is on the tip of your tongue. You know it starts with the letter S, but for the life of you, you cannot remember the name of that flower. Sometimes, when memory fails, the only thing you can do is go through a list and look. If that is your dilemma, this list is for you.
Read MoreDesign Ideas for Landscaping Stairs. If you have a sloped property, you will probably want to install stairs at some point. Stairs reduce the possibility of falls on slippery slopes wet with rain or snow, and they add vertical interest to the landscape as well. They also serve as outdoor shelves, providing convenient places to display flowerpots or statuary, and as impromptu seating.
Read MoreGarden Separation Ideas. Just as the interiors of our homes are divided by walls and furnishings, our gardens need separators to divide and define spaces according to use. This is particularly true in no-till gardens or areas with raised beds, as it is important to keep foot traffic in those spaces to a minimum to avoid soil compaction.
Read MoreHow to Bandage a Damaged Tomato Plant. Tomatoes are generally very sturdy plants and can survive a good deal of abuse, but occasionally a stem will bend or break. When that happens, unless the stem breaks more than halfway through, you may be able to repair the damage so the tomato will continue to thrive. The aim is to restore the plant's ability to take up water and nutrients through its stems, so the repair must render the capillary tubes viable or the broken stem will die.
Read MoreHow to Grow Pumpkins on a Trellis. Pumpkin vines are vigorous and pumpkin fruits are heavy, so trellises must be substantial to support the plant as each fruit weighs from 10 to more than 100 pounds. Providing sturdy support, this trelllis will hold vines and fruits off the ground and make them accessible in a relatively small space. Best of all, it is made of recycled materials.
Read MoreList of Flower Bulbs to Plant for Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are most attracted to the colors red, pink, orange and violet, so planting flowers in those colors--especially tubular flowers--will ensure you are successful in luring the little birds to your garden. It is also important to remember that hummingbirds visit flowers to feed, not because they are attracted to the smell or beauty of particular flowers. Planting flowers that produce a lot of nectar is much more important than planting for fragrance or attractiveness.
Read MoreHow to Secure Lawn Decorations. They come in all shapes and sizes. They are made of everything from balloons to concrete. Every year we rummage through attics and garages to haul out boxes of them for holiday decorating. America loves its lawn decorations---we cannot get enough of them. But how do we hang onto these sometimes flighty embellishments? How do we keep the inflatable snow globe from becoming a rollaway snowball? Fortunately, there are a number of ways to secure Santa before both he and his reindeer take off.
Read MoreHow to Make Round Flower Beds. It goes without saying that flower beds can be any shape or size you like, but sometimes getting just the right shape is easier said than done. If you want a square or a rectangle, nothing could be simpler than drawing straight lines, and free form beds are just that "free form," so anything goes. So how do you make a circular bed without ending up with an "egg"? Do not despair it is actually quite simple.
Read MoreGround Cover Under Trees. The area under your garden's trees can be a problem spot due to shade and soil conditions. No need to let the space go bare; instead, fill in the area under the trees with sturdy ground cover plants. Choose spreading plants that thrive, even when the tree's branches shade the surrounding ground from sun. For added dimension, include ground covers with leaves and textures that contrast with the tree's foliage. Add a touch of color near evergreen trees when you surround them with a flowering ground cover.
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